The Tattoo

Mehdi, an art dealer, learns that Legrain, a former legionnaire, has a tattoo by a famous painter on his back, and wants to sell it. The problem is that the tattoo is on the man's back and the man is stubborn, nationalistic and cantankerous enough to do nothing at all. To take him to America and close the sale, Mehdi moves into his house, and the two living together becomes both a comedy and a war. Denys de La Patellière brought Jean Gabin and Louis de Funès together in the same film for the first and only time, and the friction between them continued through the shoot. The story is simple and rests entirely on the pair. It was among the most watched films in France that year. Who it is for: viewers who like classic French comedy and want to see two great performers meet. Who it is not for: anyone looking for a subtle screenplay.